yatttin



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. T. J. VAUTIN. ELEGTROLYTIGAL PROCESS AND APPARATUS.

Patented June 25, 1895.

PPA-541,465.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-snm 2.-

C. T. J; VAUTIN.

BLETROLYTIAL PROCESS AND APPARATUS.

Patented June 25., 1895.4

CLAUDE THEODORE JAMES VAUTIN, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.A

n ELECTROL'YTICAI.A PROCESS AND APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION f01mv11g part 0f Letters Patent N0. 541,465, dated. J 1119.6 25, 1895. 'Application filed. Juil@ 2611894 Serial No. 515,767. (No model.) Patented in England July 12,1893J Ilo-13,568.

l duction of an alloy of lead and tin with the alkaline metals as hereinafter specified and consists of an electrolytical process for that purpose, and of the arrangement and character of the cathodes, and means employed in an internally or externally heated furnace or.

vessel, for carrying the same into effect.

Figure 1 is a'sectional elevation of a vessel or pot adapted to carry out my process. Fig.

2 is a longitudinal section of a furnace offv large size adapted to carry out my process. F1g.'31s a transverse section ofthe same. Y Fig. 41s a sectional elevation of a convenient distilling apparatus to treat the alloy.

I find that the alkaline metals, such as sodium, potassium, calcium, strontium, and barium, may be quickly and economically reduced from their respective salts, preferably chlorides, when in a fused condition by an electrolytical current passing through the furnace or vessel containing the said fused electrolytes, and having as a cathode a molten bath of lead or tin supporting the said electrolyte, the reduced metal forming an alloy with either the lead or tin cathodes from which some of the alkaline metals can be afterward easily recovered by distillation as hereinafter described; or the alloys produced as hereinafterv described are of commercial Value from their cheapness for use in other metallurgical and chemical processes, in substitution for the use of the pure alkaline metlals in such processes.

To carry my process into effect, I provide a bath A of heavy molten metal which is capable of alloying with the alkaline metals and is not volatile at the temperature of the molten electrolyte such as lead and tin in the bottom of a vessel or pot B, or on the hearth of the furnace C, and place thereover a salt of an alkaline metal or of a metal of the` alkaline earth, such as the chloride of sodium, potassium, calcium, strontium, and barium, as an electrolyte D.

The Vessel B, which may be of iron, internally lined with a neutral -lining B such as magnesia extending beneath the surface of the electrolyte, but bare at the bottom in contact with the cathode, is mounted so that the lead or tin bath and the superposed electrolyte may be fused by heat externally applied from a grate E, and dues F, While the furnace C is also provided with a grate E and iiues F to melt the bath and electrolyte ajs a reverberatory furnace, volatilization of the electrolyte being prevented by a shield or cov'er G made of tiles of fire clay or other refractory material.

In Fig. 3 the supply vessel is shown at a and the valved conduit at b.

The electrolyte and the cathode may be kept in a molten condition by an excess of the electrolytical current passing therethrough and the heat is thus maintained internally.

The bath ofmolten metal A is made the cathode of an electrolytical current and an anode or anodes IT preferably of carbon and protected by a refractory tube or cylinder K (which may also serve for the -collection of gaseous anions being provided for this purpose with an outlet pipe H) are placed in the electrolyte D as shown. y

When the current passes, the base of the electrolyte is reduced therefrom, at or on the surface ot' the metal cathode with small expenditure of electrical energy, and is alloyed with the said cathode which can be removed from the vessel or furnace as follows:

I providean open exit pipe L from the metal cathode and turn the inner end of the pipe over as a Siphon, so as always to leave a small portion of the cathode in the pot or furnace.

About the exterior of the exit pipe I apply va coil of cold Water piping M outside the heating dues, in which the flow of cold water is controlled. by a cock N. When the Water is allowed to circulate in the coil of piping the cathode alloy is suliiciently cooled to be arrested and the outward flow is stopped. When the circulation of the water is stopped, the alloy melts and is discharged. 'lhis arrangement of exit pipe is found very preferable to ICO an ordinary cock or valve.` The molten alloy is thus run into a divided mold P held together by clamps and preferably of an elongated form to expose as small-a surface as possible of the alloy to oxidation, and as a further precaution against oxidation while tapping, I apply a jet of reducing gas R in the vicinity of the exit pipe and the mouth of the mold.

The alkaline metals from the above alloy may be readily distilled by treatment in a heated retort lined with magnesia or carbon or any suitable retort and the heavy metal of the cathode is thus freed for further use as a cathode.

The alloy when discharged in a molten condition from the pot B or furnace C is received by the pipe R into the retort S lined with magnesia or carbon.

lt is found that sucient further heat can` be conveniently applied to effect the distillation of the volatile metal from the alloy, by means of the carbon T rendered incandescent by an electric cu rrent and inserted into a tube t passing through the retort.

The distilled volatile metal passes by the pipe U to the condenser V and is there condensed and can be collected in its pure metal-` lic condition from the lower end oi pipe U.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

a metallurgical receptacle, adapted to containv a melted cathode; a grate and flues therewith to fuse salts superposed upon said cathode; an anode protected by annular refractory tube,

. immersed in said fused salts; a shield or cover G, protecting surface of said fused salts; a discharge exit for the molten alloyed cathode, controlled by external coil of Water piping; and a distilling apparatus for reception and continued distillation of molten alloyed catliode while hot, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this Specification in the presence of two subscribing' Witnesses.

CLAUDE TI'IEODORE JAMES VAU'llN.

Witnesses:

RICHARD A. HOFFMANN, CHARLES H. CARTER. 

